Basic Music Theory & Dynamic Markings

            Major Scale

            C Major Scale:     C  D  E  F  G  A  B

           

            The Pattern of steps is   W W 1/2  W W W 1/2

           A Minor Scale:     A  B  C  D  E  F  G

            The Pattern of steps in   W 1/2 W W 1/2 W W

            A Major Scale:   A  B  C#  D  E  F#  G#

            The Parallel Key to A Major is A Minor

            A Minor Scale:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G

            Notice the 3^rd, 6^th, & 7^th are each dropped a half step to get the parallel key.   

            Building A Chord

            Building a basic chord uses the root, third, fifth.

            C  D  E  F  G  A  B     - C Major Scale

            1  2  3  4  5  6  7      -  Scale numbered Intervals

            The root note is 1 (C).

            The third is 3 (E).

            The fifth is 5 (G).

            So the three notes that make up the C chord are C, E, & G.

If I wanted to create the F chord in the same key we also use the root, third, & fifth only this time we start with the F.

            Root (F), Third (A),  & Fifth (G).

            The F chord is made up of F, A, & C.

            If you would like to build a seventh chord you just add another third interval.

            On the F chord you would have F, A, C, & E.

            For chord progressions the same numbering applies.

            Ex: I I IV V      =          C  C  F  G

Dynamic Markings

          Pianissimo (pp) - Very Soft

            Piano (p) – Soft

            Mezzo Piano (mp) – Medium Soft

            Mezzo Forte (mf) – Medium Loud

            Forte (f) – Loud

            Fortissimo (ff) – Very Loud